Display device



Oct. 17, 1939. J. CIOFALO HAL 2,176,047

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 30, 1939 w mzm ma M H m 0 v 0 JJ. I m 1 H ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES DISPLAY DEVICE John Ciofalo, Brooklyn, and Joseph Ciofalo,

' Yonkers, N. Y.

Application January 30, 1939, Serial No. 253,636

4 Claims. (Cl. 40-126) This invention relates to display devices and in particular to the type made from light material for quick and easy set up by the merchant for use as a counter or showcase display.

A particular object of the invention is to provide, in a foldable display, an easel construction which is opened and thereby automatically opens the display so that the merchant need not put parts together or read the extensive set up instructions that usually are necessary in display devices. In the usual merchandising of goods so many display devices are presented to the merchant that he does not have time to set up those requiring extensive study and manipulation and hence another object of the invention is to make a display in few pieces, so that it is simple, can be readily set up and when foldedis perfectly fiat.

A still further object of the invention is to make a display device that gives a perspective effect and at the same time provides for the cutting out of the parts of the device in the same plane, so that when the same is set up, the parts provide a receding effect and give the illusion of depth to the display. A further object is to provide a device of this type which may be made in two or more parts which will fold flat, but which can be opened up by the opening. of the easel to support the display in upright position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an easel that has parts extended to connect with the various parts of the display so that as the easel folds, the parts of the display will fold and assume proper position, the easel being made from a single piece of material.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved combination, construction and relative arrangement of the parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein: v

Figure 1 is a View in perspective showing the display device in opened position,

Figure 2 is an edge view showing the device in closed or fiat position,

Figure 3 is an edge view showing the device in open position as illustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing the arrangement of the easel and its relation to the parts of the display device,

Figure 5 is a view in rear elevation of the easel and part of the display as illustrated in Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective View of the locking tab of the easel showing how the parts of said easel are maintained open.

Referring to the drawing in detail, in indicates the full display device which consists of 5 the article forming blank I I which is cut and scored to provide the bottle or article shapes l2, designated for convenience as central section l3, intermediatesections l4 and outer or end sections l5, which are scored and bent on the lines l6 so 10 that they are rearwardly oiiset to give a perspective or depth effect to the eye and are so bent that they provide a supporting lower edge. The sections are joined by the connecting strips H which extend far enough up the sides of the articles or sections to effectively hide the easel device to be later referred to. It is evident that when the blank II is folded it will assume the shape shown in Figure 1, but when unfolded will be fiat. To the upper edges of the outer sections I5 and central section l3 an advertising display blank I 8 is secured as by tabs 19, this blank 58 being scored and bent at 2D to provide middle and end portions 2! and 22 respectively, the bend or score 20 being such that the depth of fold of 25 the top blank [8 is the same as the complete depth of fold as the section displays therebeneath.

In order that the display may be set up for proper use it is necessary to fold it so that the article appears as in Figure 1 and if the merchant has to stop and fold the display on the various score lines he will, in most instances, cast the display aside or set it up improperly in either of which cases the advertising effect of the device is wasted as well as the cost thereof. In order that the merchant can immediately set up the device without manipulation of the folds thereof, an easel is provided which is operable to open the device to display position automatically. This easel 25 consists of a bottom 26 scored and cut to provide sides 21 intermediate section wings 28, outer section wings 29 and lock tab 36. The bottom of the easel is secured as by gluing to the back surface of the central section l3 so that the bottom of the easel is flush with the bottom of the display blank-or front and the lock tab is cut out in such shape that a finger opening 3! is provided in the bottom 26 whereby the edge of the lock tab 30 can be drawn out and down so that its recesses 32 engage and hold the sides 21 of the easel to hold the same in open or supporting position.

The outer section wings 29 of the easel are secured as by gluing to the rear faces of the outer sections [5 of the display blank, while the intermediate section wings 28 of the easel are attached as by gluing to the rear faces of the intermediate sections I4 of the display. The outer section wings 29 may be provided with foldable top edge parts 33 which reinforce the structure. When the easel is folded, all the parts thereof are in the same plane and directly beneath the top blank l8 and as the entire display is folded, only two thicknesses of material are evident with the result that the display is extremely compact and can be shipped in large quantities with a minimum of bulk.

When it is desired to set up the display it is simply necessary to draw the sides of the easel outwardly as indicated in outline in Figure 4 until the lock tab of the easel can be drawn down so that the recesses 32 will engage about the sides 2! to hold the easel open. The action of drawing the sides 21 of the easel as described will be to pull on the outer and intermediate section wings of the easel with the result that the outer and intermediate sections of the display will be folded as shown and the entire device will be ready to be placed on the counter. For unfolding, the lock tab is released and the parts folded fiat. The upper part of the display, l8, may be used for advertising matter, pictures or the like for supplementing the message imparted by the display itself. It is evident that the set up of the device is substantially automatic and requires no extended instructions for use.

Our invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What we claim is:

1. In a display device, in combination, a blank foldable to present a plurality of article simulations in offset relation to each other, an easel attached to one of the articles and having other article simulation engaging means, and said easel being foldable to automatically position said article simulations in said offset relation to each other.

2. In a display device, in combination, a blank foldable to present a plurality of spaced, rearwardly ofiset article simulations, an easel attached to one of said simulations and having extensions attached to the other article simulation, said easel having foldable sides from which said extensions project, and said extensions being arranged to draw the said article simulations into offset relation when said sides are folded.

3. In a display device, in combination, a blank foldable to present a plurality of display sections, said sections being foldably joined for rearward offset relation in a horizontal plane, an easel attached to one of the sections, foldable sides on the easel, extensions on said sides engaging said other sections, a lock tab in the easel for retaining the sides of the easel in folded position whereby the extensions cause the said sections to assume their offset relation.

4. In a display device, in combination, a blank scored to provide relatively foldable central, intermediate and outer sections in simulation of an article, said sections when folded being rearwardly offset, a top display part secured to the upper end of some of said sections, an easel secured to the rear face of said central section, sides on the easel, intermediate and outer section engaging wings extending from said sides whereby folding of the said sides causes folding of the said sections relatively to each other and a lock tab in the easel for holding the sides in folded position.

JOHN CIOFALO. JOSEPH CIOFALO. 

